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GRAN TOUR

Meghan, Harry and Archie to spend Thanksgiving in US with gran Doria before Christmas with the Queen in six-week holiday

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle plan to take baby Archie to California next month, allowing the royals to spend Thanksgiving with the American side of the family.

The trip will come as part of a six-week break away from royal duties to allow the prince and Duchess of Sussex to spend some "much-needed" family time together.

 Five-month-old Archie will spend his first Thanksgiving in the United States as part of some 'much-needed' family time for the royals
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Five-month-old Archie will spend his first Thanksgiving in the United States as part of some 'much-needed' family time for the royalsCredit: Rex Features
 Meghan, who was born in Los Angeles, is keen for Archie to grow up aware of his American heritage
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Meghan, who was born in Los Angeles, is keen for Archie to grow up aware of his American heritageCredit: Splash News

Following the trip to The States – which will be baby Archie's first Thanksgiving – the family will return to the UK, where they will spend the remainder of the holiday season with Queen Elizabeth II at Sandringham in Norfolk, as is tradition.

, a source told the newspaper: "The duke and duchess have a full schedule of engagements and commitments until mid-November, after which they will be taking some much-needed family time."

Markle, who was born in Los Angeles, will reportedly spend the November 28 holiday with Harry, Archie, and her mother, Doria Raglan, and wants her 5-month-old son to grow up aware of his American heritage.

It is believed that Meghan retained her American citizenship following her marriage to the prince.

TRAVELS ABROAD

The planned break follows the royals' ten-day tour of Southern Africa, part of which featured in a documentary that aired in the UK on Sunday night.

The documentary was produced by a friend of Harry, broadcaster Tom Bradby – and ahead of the program, Bradby admitted he felt the couple are "vulnerable and bruised."

This screening comes after Meghan revealed she as was struggling with the pressures tied to the intense spotlight being put on her as a wife, mother and member of the royal family.

As part of Sunday's interview, she said: "I would say, look, any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable and so that was made really challenging.

“And then when you have a newborn, you know? And especially as a woman, it’s really, it’s a lot.

"So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed, it’s um... yeah.”

ROYAL SPOTLIGHT

She continued by saying to Bradby: "Also, thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm OK. But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."

Bradby then asked the Duchess of Sussex: "And the answer is, would it be fair to say, not really OK, as in it's really been a struggle?"

A visibly upset Meghan then replied, "Yes."

Supporters then took to Twitter in response, using the hashtag "#WeLoveYouMeghan" to spread positive messages about the Duchess of Sussex.

Within hours, the hashtag was trending topic on the social media site with an estimated 70,000 uses.

Bradby said of the documentary: "It will be for everyone to judge — you may even have seen the clip we released on Friday — but both of them in this trip came across as more vulnerable and bruised than the spoilt, petulant, arrogant and entitled caricatures that are sometimes tied to the public whipping post."

The programme comes amid reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking to build a new home in Botswana to lead a more private life and "focus" on Africa.

In the hour-long documentary, Harry expresses a desire to leave the UK and says Cape Town would also be “an amazing place to base ourselves”.

Although he later concedes such a move might not be possible.

 In an interview that aired Sunday night, Meghan revealed how she was struggling with the spotlight of being a royal
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In an interview that aired Sunday night, Meghan revealed how she was struggling with the spotlight of being a royalCredit: ITV
 Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex's trip to the states follows a 10-day royal visit to Africa
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Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex's trip to the states follows a 10-day royal visit to AfricaCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Following their time in California, the royals will spend the Christmas period with Queen Elizabeth II, as is tradition
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Following their time in California, the royals will spend the Christmas period with Queen Elizabeth II, as is traditionCredit: PA:Press Association
Meghan Markle reveals her nickname for Prince Harry as she’s pressed on ‘surviving’ in the media spotlight in Harry and Meghan: An African Journey
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